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Legal and psychological considerations in the development of a euthanasia statute for adults in the united states
Author(s) -
Maier Donna M.,
Newman Michael J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370130102
Subject(s) - statute , legislation , living wills , law , state (computer science) , assisted suicide , statute of limitations , psychology , political science , computer science , health care , algorithm
This article discusses legal and psychological factors relevant to the drafting of euthanasia statute for adults in the United States including legal and medical definitions of death; the distinction between passive and active euthanasia; living wills and advance directives; the psychological states found among those with a terminal illness; competency determinations; and currently proposed euthanasia models. Discussed at length are six different scenarios for which unique legal and psychological considerations apply to the euthanasia decision. The authors recommend that, if state or federal legislators draft euthanasia legislation, these factors should be incorporated into the statute.